EDI in OnRamp

Electronic Data Interchange, or EDI, is the electronic interchange of business information using a standardized format; a process which allows one company to send information to another company electronically rather than with paper. EDI is one of the most used communication standards to send and receive purchase orders, invoices, shipment notices, and other common documents.

Because of its usefulness, OnRamp uses EDI to send and receive documentation automatically to your vendors, customers, and financial institutions.

How EDI Helps

Using EDI to communicate with your vendors and customers grants you numerous benefits, such as:

Lower labour costs and data defects due to less manual data entry
Less service agreement infractions which lead to less chargebacks
Faster quote-to-cash processes with direct communication with vendors and customers

These benefits lead to a more efficient company.

OnRamp's EDI system also replaces any legacy EDI systems and services you may have, including removing any need for outsourced EDI management.

EDI started off being used to communicate shipment information and other logistics but has evolved to help customers and vendors communicate more efficiently.

Common EDI Documents

The following are commonly used EDI documents:

EDI 850 - This is the purchase order document. It contains which items are being ordered, the quantity of the item, pricing information, and shipping details.
EDI 997 - This is the functional acknowledgement document. It is used to notify a customer that the PO was received or rejected. This helps customers resubmit documentation quickly when rejected, leading to less processing delays.
EDI 855 - This is the PO acknowledgement document. It is used to confirm the received PO.
EDI 856 - This is the shipping notice document. It is used to alert the customer when their order is being shipped. It contains details of the contents and packaging of the shipment, carrier elements, items and quantity being shipped, and tracking numbers.